Praveen Kumar preparing for comeback

BANGALORE: Out of the Indian team for nearly two years, pacer Praveen Kumar, who is recovering from a shoulder injury which he suffered while bowling at the India 'A' net session here in September, has set his sights on the Vijay Hazare limited overs tournament this season to return to competitive cricket.

"I am currently undergoing my final rehab session at the National Cricket Academy. Besides working on my fitness, I am also preparing for the Vijay Hazare domestic one-dayers. I am hoping to regain fitness in two weeks," said Kumar, who reported at NCA on Thursday for a final rehab and fitness assessment.

"If Uttar Pradesh advance to the Ranji Trophy semifinals and if I regain fitness in time I will be playing for my team," the 27-year-old Meerut cricketer added.

Kumar, who last turned up in India colours in March 2012 at the Asia Cup, is hopeful of returning to the national team. "I have not played for India in almost 21 months but I have not lost hopes. I am confident of a comeback by putting up a consistent performance on the domestic circuit," Kumar said.

Kumar has had a roller-coaster season in recent times. An elbow injury curtailed his 2012-13 Ranji Trophy run. That was followed by a suspension from playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy for his tantrums, including excessive appealing, in the BCCI Corporate Trophy match in February last year.

After a not-so-impressive performance at the 2013 Indian Premier League for Kings XI Punjab, the swing bowler looked set to begin the season on a better note when he made the India 'A' team for the series against West Indies 'A'. But a shoulder injury put him out of action for the rest of the season. The UP cricketer underwent a shoulder surgery in October.

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Shweta Pandey

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